Templates

ABSTRACT

A template by which doors or other panels may be easily cut to shape to fit predetermined openings therefor. The template comprises flexible strips along at least two adjacent edges extensible under the effect of spring loaded rods at various points along the strips and having a retracting mechanism interconnecting all the spring loaded rods and operable through a single manipulating handle with a further single manipulating handle associated with means to lock the spring loaded rods in different positions.

United States Patent [191 Howlett [451 Jan. 16, 1973 TEMPLATES Arthur George Howlett, 59 Marion Avenue, Glenashley, Durban, Natal Province, South Africa Filed: May 13, 1970 Appl. No.: 36,791

inventor:

Foreign Application Priority Data May 16, 1969 South Africa ..69/3454 US. Cl... ..33/l94, 33/i76 Int. Cl. ..E06b 3/00 Field of Search ..33/l94, 176

[56] 1 References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,917,239 7/1933 Chester ..33/i94 751,050 2/1904 Bronk ..33/194 2,895,229 7/1959 Strickland ..33/194 1,664,076 3/1928 l-lumphrey.....v ..33/l94 Primary Examiner-William D. Martin, Jr. Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz 8L Nissen [57] ABSTRACT loaded rods in different positions.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures /3 l I] ll 2- PAIENIEDJM 16 1975 3 710 447 FIG. 40 F/G.4b

TEMPLATES This invention relates to templates generally for use in shaping panels or like structures to fit correctly into a surrounding frame. While not specifically confined thereto, the invention is particularly suitable for cutting doors to fit into door frames.

With the present method of fitting doors to door frames, the frame is constructed according to specification but due to a variety of causes both the vertical and lateral edges of the frame are never exactly flat and the angles are not always exactly right angles. The doors are consequently supplied slightly oversize by the manufacturer and the carpenter then fits each door to the frame by planing the door to size and shape where necessary to fit the particular frame.

Adjustable templates have been proposed having flexible strips along the edges thereof, the flexible strips being spring loaded to project outwardly and being supported at a plurality of points along the lengths thereof. These templates are used to gauge the shape of the frame. The disadvantage with these templates is that once a template has been located within the door frame and the flexible strips are brought to bear against the frame, each one of the support points hasto be locked individually before the template can be removed.

This operation is time consuming and it is an object of this invention to provide a template wherein the flexible strips may be moved against the spring loading by a single operation and may further be locked in position by a single operation.

According to this invention, there is provided an adjustable template comprising a substantially rectangular frame with flexible strips along at least two adjacent edges thereof, the strips being spring loaded to project outwardly beyond the respective edges of the frame, cranked levers associated with the spring loading by means of which the strips may be moved against the spring loading and pivoted locking arms by means of which the strips may be locked in position, means for actuating the levers in unison and meansforsimultaneously securing all locking arms in position independently of the lever actuating means.

Further features of this invention provide for the strips to be included along each edge of the frame, for the strips to be mounted on a plurality of retractable rods and for there to be a lever, locking arm and spring.

loading assembly for each rod, all the levers being interconnected to be moved in unison by a single 7 reduced scale, the operating cable and the manipulatthe frame 1 by means of tension springs engaged over manipulating handle and for the locking arms to be' lockedby manipulation of a second single handle.

The invention will be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a template constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the method of attachment of the flexible strips to the spring loading assembly and lever with the strip in itsterminalposition beyond the edge of the template frame and the associated locking arm in the locked position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the strip in the retracted position and the locking arm in the inoperative conditions.

FIG. 4a is a diagrammatic illustration showing, on reduced scale, the operating cable and the manipulating handle for retractingthe strips; and

ing handle for locking the rods.

As shown in the drawings the template consists of a rigid open frame 1 of generally rectangular shape with strips 2 of flexible material-fitted in slots formed along each edge of the frame 1. The strips are fitted to the frame by means of a plurality of rods 3 slidably engaged in apertures 4 suitably spaced around the edges of the frame. As is more clearlyseen in FIGS. 2 and 3 each rod 3 is normally urged to project beyond the edges, of

a transverse pin 6 carried by the rod 3 and secured to the frame 1 at 7. The flexible strip 2 is secured to the free end of each rod 3 in any suitable manner.

A bell cranked lever 8 is associated with each rod 3, the lever 8 being pivoted at 9 to the template frame. The outer end 10 of the one arm is connected to the associated rod while the outer end 11 of the other arm of the bell cranked lever 8 is connected to an operating cable 12. This operating cable 12 connects all the bell cranked levers to a single manipulating handle 13 (FIGS. 1 and 4a) so that movement of this handle 13 results in all the flexible strips 2 being withdrawn against the action of the springs S.

A loose collar 14 is provided through which each rod 3 passes. To lock the rod in any given position a locking arm 15, pivoted to the frame of the template at 16, is brought to bear against the collar l4, thus clamping the rod 3 in the desired position. A locking arm 15 is associated with each rod 3 and the inner end of each of these locking arms 15 is connected to a cable 16 which is in turn connected to a second handle 17 (see FIGS. 1 and 4b).

Clamps 18 are preferably located at the corners of the template. These clamps are pivotally attached at 19 to what is the undersurface of the template when the door that is to be shaped is laid on the template. The clamps 18 are pivotable to a position within the perimeter of the frame when the frame is to be packed away or is being fitted into a door frame. When required to clamp the door the clamps 18 are swung outwardly to extend over the edge of the template and the upper jaw is folded around to engage the upperside of the door.

The clamps 18 arepreferably provided with aquick engage and release mechanism while also being adjustable to accommodate different thickness of doors.

In operation, the template is inserted into a door frame by withdrawing the flexible strips 2 by manipulation of the appropriate handle 13. Once the template is in position, the handle 13 is released and the strips 2 automatically, as a result of the spring loading, project to fit snugly against the inside edges of the door frame. Due to the flexibility of the strips 2 in a longitudinal direction each strip 2 may project to a variable extent along its length toaccommodate the variations in the door frame member against which it abuts. The locking handle 17 is then moved to lock the strips in the posiguide foot similar to that described above, may be used in the final shaping of the door.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable template comprising a substantially rectangular frame, flexible strips mounted on said frame along at least two adjacent edges for movement between a retracted inoperative position and an extended operative position, spring means associated with said strips at different positions urging the strips outwardly beyond the respective edges of the frame, cranked levers operatively associated with the strips to move said strips to retracted position in opposition to the spring means, a plurality of rods slidably supported in the frame, each rod supporting a respective strip, and being associated with a respective spring means and cranked lever, locking arms operatively positioned for locking said rods to hold said strips at selected different operative positions, first operating means for actuating the levers in unison to retract said strips simultaneously and second operating means for acting on the locking arms in unison to lock said rods and thereby said strips in their operative positions simultaneously.

2. An adjustable template as claimed in claim 1 wherein the operating means for the levers and the operating means for the locking arms are operable independently of each other.

3. An adjustable template as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strips are mounted along each edge of the frame.

4. An adjustable template as claimed in claim 1 wherein the operating means for the levers and the operating means for the locking arms each comprises a manipulating handle and a flexible cable.

5. An adjustable template as claimed in claim 1 comprising clamping means on the frame for securing a panel to one face of the template.

6. An adjustable template as claimed in claim 5 wherein said clamping means include quick release mechanisms and are pivotally attached to the frame within the outer periphery thereof. 

1. An adjustable template comprising a substantially rectangular frame, flexible strips mounted on said frame along at least two adjacent edges for movement between a retracted inoperative position and an extended operative position, spring means associated with said strips at different positions urging the strips outwardly beyond the respective edges of the frame, cranked levers operatively associated with the strips to move said strips to retracted position in opposition to the spring means, a plurality of rods slidably supported in the frame, each rod supporting a respective strip, and being associated with a respective spring means and cranked lever, locking arms operatively positioned for locking said rods to hold said strips at selected different operative positions, first operating means for actuating the levers in unison to retract said strips simultaneously and second operating means for acting on the locking arms in unison to lock said rods and thereby said strips in their operative positions simultaneously.
 2. An adjustable template as claimed in claim 1 wherein the operating means for the levers and the operating means for the locking arms are operable independently of each other.
 3. An adjustable template as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strips are mounted along each edge of the frame.
 4. An adjustable template as claimed in claim 1 wherein the operating means for the levers and the operating means for the locking arms each comprises a manipulating handle and a flexible cable.
 5. An adjustable template as claimed in claim 1 comprising clamping means on the frame for securing a panel to one face of the template.
 6. An adjustable template as claimed in claim 5 wherein said clamping means include quick release mechanisms and are pivotally attached to the frame within the outer periphery thereof. 